New Brunswick Asks: What’s the Difference Between Exterior and Interior Shutters?

07/05/2017

Holly Perron

Shutters can go almost anywhere – in any New Brunswick house, in any space, on any size window, and even on the outside of your house. And that may be where some homeowners might get confused.

Exterior and interior shutters are completely different things, and if you’re uneducated on the differences, you can waste time or money shopping around for something that isn’t what you need. Let’s look at what you need to know.

Exterior Shutters

First, we need to state that Sunburst Shutters New Brunswick does not build or sell exterior home shutters. Rather, our specialty is in fashionable interior shutters for your home.

Outdoor shutters tend to serve one of two purposes: they’re either just for looks as an accent to your windows, or they’re heavy-duty “hurricane shutters,” built to guard your windows from heavy damage during intense storms.

Decorative exterior shutters typically look great on very specific styles of homes, like Mediterranean homes. Hurricane shutters are somewhat rare except in a few parts of the U.S., and many types don’t even look like normal shutters, but rather look like large steel sheets.

For those exterior shutters that do open and shut on your window, they don’t tend to have a lot of functionality. They are unable to form a seal to block heat and their louvers (if they exist) usually can’t be adjusted. Aside from that, exterior shutters can add a much-needed color accent to your home.

Consider exterior shutters if:

You need to guard your windows from heavy storm damage.

You want to add a color accent to your home.

You have enough space around your windows for the shutters to fit.

Interior Shutters

Interior shutters are our area of expertise, and they’re the ultimate window covering in combining fashion and practicality. Placed directly in or on top of your window frame, indoor shutters become a piece of your home the moment they’re installed. And unlike exterior shutters, interior shutters can go on any window, in any room of your house.

The style that classic plantation shutters give your space is unrivaled, and shutters are extremely flexible. Plantation shutters can serve as an amazing accent to any style of home; from historic Craftsman homes to chic houses, and have an assortment of colors, stains, and frame options to fit your personal style.

As for tangible benefits, plantation shutters may be the most effective window treatment. Polywood faux wood shutters in New Brunswick can help block heat more effectively than any other window treatment available, keeping your house more comfortable. The tilting louvers on a shutter panel also give you a full spectrum of lighting options, unlike shades or draperies.

Consider interior shutters if:

You need the maximum control of your home’s lighting, inside temperature, and energy-efficiency.

You want a flexible, long-lasting window treatment.

You want to add some more fashion your home, and match your existing interior trim.

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Information about Sunburst Shutters New Brunswick

From our founding in 1997, Sunburst Shutters New Brunswick has been part
of the Sunburst family,
providing genuine
workmanship, unfailingly
creative design, and
personalized service to
satisfied clients from the Old Barracks Museum
to Absecon Lighthouse. Sunburst Shutters & Window Fashions
offers the New Jersey the finest of energy-efficient, beautiful – and beautifully
practical – plantation shutters.